miscellaneous
Austrian Jagers attacking Lindenau
austrian light infantry
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| Austrian Grenzer | Austrian Jäger |
ACTUAL FORCES AND
STRENGHTS
(1)
Austrian Grenzer
(Österreichische Grenzer)
The Grenze was the permanent Frontier behind the Danube and
Save Rivers, flanked by the Croatian and Carpathian Mountians, between
the Austrian and Turk Empires. The most of 850,000 population of
the Grenzer, hold their land direct from the Crown as free peasants but,
in return, they supplied at least one soldier for guarding the frontier
or, when required for the Army.
These soldiers formed the bulk of the light units of the Austrian army. All
Grenzers were trained as marksmen and skirmishing, usually acting as
advanced-guards. They could be deployed in open order but still were
able to fight like the Line.
In 1813, one battalion of the Croatian Warasdiener-Kreuzer Grenz (899
men) and other of the Warasdiener-St. Georger Grenz (1,016 men) were
assigned to the 1st (Light) Division of the Austrian 3rd Army Corps
commanded by the Feldzeugmeister Graf I. Gyulai. This Corps fought
during the Leipzig campaign participating in the battle of
Leipzig (october 16-18) in the Lindenau sector, conforming the only
western way of retreat for the French Army.
(2)
Austrian Jagers (Österreichische Jägers)
In 1801 a regiment of Tyrolean Jägers was formed to replace
the disbanded regular light infantry battalions existent from 1798. In 1808, nine 'divisions' of Jägers were formed, four in Bohemia, two each in
Austria and Moravia and one in Inner Austria. These units were expanded
in six-company battalions, with a force of 860 men.
Three Austrian Jäger
battalions (Nos. #1, #2 and #7) were part of the Liechtenstein's 1st
Light Division, and were present in Lindenau with a force of 1,920 men.
UNIFORMS AND MINIATURES
(1)
Austrian Grenzer
(Österreichische Grenzer)
In 1813, the Grenzer wore the uniform of the 1809 regulations, i.e. a
black-brown jacket of Hungarian cut with pointed cuffs and bear's claws;
a white waiscoat; hungarian blue trousers of the looser Croatian cut; a
trouser belt; black gaiters; a calfskin backpack; black leather-work and
a shako with peak, which from 1811 onwards had the bell-top wider than
the base. The facings of both the Warasdiener Kreutzer and Warasdiener
St-Georger were crab red in 1813 with, respectively, yellow and white
buttons
My old Grenzer were painting conversions from ESCI 227 or ITALERI 6002 French Line infantry. However, this time I'll use the new
8204 HäT
Austrian Grenzer, kindly sent to me by some months ago by Harris (the
HäT's owner) and also one box of 8027 HäT Napoleonic Austrian
Infantry. In total, I'll paint 60 figures, i.e 60x120 = 7,200 men in terms
of 'normal' Napoleon's Battles, or 3,600 in the 'one-half'
modification..
(2)
Austrian Jagers (Österreichische Jägers)
Jägers wore pike grey breeches and singlebreasted jacket,
grass green collar, cuffs and turnbacks,
yellow buttons bearing the battalion number, and a black 'Corsican
hat' (Korsehut) with a feather and a leather chinstrap; this 'round
hat' with an upturned brim had a 2* in. high brass shield specified,
bearing the battalion number.
Hornists had grass green wings laced white.
There are not
1/72 plastic figures depicting this Austrian unit, but HäT make a
natural susbtitute: 8008 Napoleonic Brunswick Avantgarde Jaeger wearing
the unmistakable 'Corsican hat'. This was one of the first
HäT sets, so the overall quality is somewhat low when compared with the
last HäT releases but it is the only feasible alternative. The box
contains 48 figures, i.e. 5,760 men for 'normal' Napoleon's
Battles and 2,880 men in the 'one-half' modification.
I am very grateful to the members of the Benno's Figures and ALKAID
Forums for their useful considerations about the 'pike grey' color
('gris lucio' in Spanish!)
| UNIT | FIGURES | COLOR SCHEME | PICTURES |
| Austrian Grenzer |
8204 HäT
Austrian Grenzer 8027 HäT Napoleonic Austrian Infantry |
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| Austrian Jäger | 8008 HäT Napoleonic Brunswick Avantgarde Jaeger |
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Links of interest:
Austrian Army of the Napoleonic Wars (I): Infantry. Philip Haythornthwaite-Bryan
Fosten. Osprey MAA 176 (1986)
Austrian Auxiliary Troops 1796-1816. Dave Hollins - Bill Younghusband. Osprey MAA
299 (1996)
Austrian Infantry of the Napoleonic Wars 1805 - 1815
| The full movie: Austrian Light Infantry |
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